Fashion geeks who know their bells from their bishops can rejoice as sleeves have been a key look on the catwalk this season. To keep up, here are four sleeve types to know:
The leg-o’-mutton: They are the wildest kind of sleeves and according to the latest runway report — the bigger the better. Opt for a midnight black dress with leg-o’-mutton sleeves, top them up with light accessories and an amazing pair of black pumps. Voila! You will be the modern Victorian lady. Keep the styling simple and let your sleeve do the talking!
The bell: You could take one look at a bell sleeve and be whisked back to the seventies. With puffs and frills covering most your arms — the latest trend invites you to try wearing a cape over bell sleeves to sort of creating a double-sleeved impact. For a full-volume approach, pair a bell-sleeve top with flared jeans, or make it modern with an envelope skirt.
The virago sleeve: It is a full ‘paned’ or ‘pansied’ sleeve gathered into two puffs by a ribbon or fabric band above the elbow, worn in the 1620s and 1630s. Don’t hesitate to try them out.
The bishop: A bit Kate Bush, Stevie Nicks or even Patti Smith, the bishop sleeve — full and tied at the wrist — smacks of 70s bohemia and that’s why it’s totally 2016. You can freely mix it with a more structured silhouette. And if that’s not a sleeve triumph, I don’t know what is.
The writer is a designer and owner of brand Chique
